I’m in no position to write an obituary for Larry; I have fond memories of him at Stonyhurst but scant information about his later life and demise. We spent many happy days hanging out during the holidays together with Dick Symonds, and were treated to his mother Dorothea’s legendary hospitality. Dick kept in touch with them over the years and filled me in on the goss on the few occasions we met between 2005 and 2012 (most of which I have forgotten). Sadly, he died before I moved back to the UK and so I lost the opportunity to see him again.

You can read about his life in his autobiography I’m Ready / The Story of Laurence I. Dunsmore.

Larry also left a musical legacy: “I’m Ready / The Music of Laurence I. Dunsmore”.

Like most people, I have an aversion to the popular music of my parents’ generation, so it was with trepidation that I started listening to Larry’s renditions as crooner and solo pianist.

Larry’s voice is unrecognisable to me: he developed a deep, sonorous crooner’s voice, not at all how I remember the cheeky upstart who was always cadging cigarettes. I have to admit that, despite not liking the genre, he had a fantastic voice and was an accomplished singer. I can imagine not a few ladies melting under the spell of his music. He was clearly a very talented performer, his instrumental pieces polished to the nth degree. Here are some examples from the album:

Georgia On My Mind

West Side Story Compilation

I’m not sure where you can get the CDs from, but I have a copy and might be able share my source – a friend of a former neighbour of Larry’s.